Earbud Stabilization System

ABSTRACT

A system for earbud headphones holds the earbud headphone on during movement. The system has a “C” shaped ear frame with a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening. The ear frame is formed from a soft plastic. A clip has a concave side that mates with an earbud headphone. A pin is attached to the clip and detachably extends through the opening in the ear loop. The opening has a spherically concave shape with a hole in the center. The pin has a ball shaped head that mates with the spherically concave shape to form a ball and socket arrangement. As a result, the clip is able to rotate 360 degrees. The stem of the pin is smaller than the hole and this allows the clip holding the earbud speaker to tilt.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/225,981, filed on Jul. 16, 2009, entitled “Earbud SupportSystem” and is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Earbud headphones or Earbud speaker style headset (“earbud headsets”)have become very popular. This style headphone has speakers that fitinside the user's ear. Earbud headsets are supplied with most MP3players. Unfortunately, earbud headsets often do not stay in the earwhen the user moves or is active, such as jogging, skiing, or involvedin other sporting activities. In fact, merely moving one's head candislodge earbud headsets. Sport-style replacement earbud headsets areavailable, but they are expensive.

Thus there exists a need for an inexpensive earbud headphone system thatstabilizes/supports/provides assistance to earbud headsets to stay inplace when the user is moving/active, such as in sporting activities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A system for earbud headsets that holds the earbud headphone in placeduring physical movement. The system includes a frame/hook/loop/support,that may be shaped similar to an outline of an ear (“ear frame”). In anexample embodiment, the ear frame having an approximate “C” shape with afirst end and a second end. The first end has an opening. The ear frameis formed from a soft/moldable/flexible/bendable/movable (“soft”)plastic/rubber which assist in comfort and staying connected to the ear.The system may further comprise a clip. The clip may be connected toearbud headsets using various methods well known in the art. For examplethe clip may have a concave side that connects with an earbud headphone.Further, the clip may have a pin, or similar connector, attached to theclip. The pin may further detachably extend through the opening in theear frame. The opening, located at the first end, may have a sphericallyconcave shape with a hole in the center. The pin may have a ball shapedhead that connects with the spherically concave shape to form a ball andsocket arrangement. As a result, the clip is able to rotate 360 degrees.The stem of the pin can be smaller than the hole allowing the clipholding the earbud speaker to tilt slightly. This tilt, rotation, ormovement provides more comfort to the user by allowing the earbud systemto, in essence, mold/shape to an individual's ear.

In the example embodiment, the user snaps the speakers of their earbudheadsets to the clips of their earbud stabilization system. The earframes are then placed over the user's ears. The system is inexpensivebecause it does not replace the user's existing earbud headsets, butworks with them. The ball and socket make the system extremelycomfortable and the ear frames ensure that the speakers do not fall outof the user's ear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an earbud stabilization system andearbud speaker in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an ear frame in accordance with one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a clip in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the clip in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an earbud stabilization system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view an earbud stabilization system in accordance withone embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view an earbud stabilization system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for earbud headsets thatstabilizes the earbud headphone during movement, such as sportingactivities. The system includes a frame to go over one's ear, that maybe shaped similar to an outline of an ear (“ear frame”). In an exampleembodiment, the ear frame having an approximate “C” shape with a firstend and a second end. The first end has an opening. The ear frame may beformed from a soft plastic/rubber which assist in comfort and stayingconnected to the ear. The system or method may further comprise a clip.The clip may be connected to earbud headsets using various methods wellknown in the art. In an example embodiment, the clip may have a concaveside that connects with an earbud headphone. Further, the clip may havea pin, or similar connector, attached to the clip. In this exampleembodiment, the pin detachably extends through the opening in the earframe. The opening has a spherically concave shape with a hole in thecenter. The pin may have a ball shaped head that mates/connects with/tothe spherically concave shape to form a ball and socket arrangement. Asa result, the clip is able to rotate 360 degrees. The stem of the pincan be smaller than the hole allowing the clip holding the earbudspeaker to tilt slightly. This tilt or movement provides more comfort tothe user by allowing the earbud system to, in essence, mold to anindividual's ear

In an example embodiment, the user snaps/attaches the speakers of theirearbud headsets to the clips of their earbud stabilization system. Theear frames are then placed over the user's ears. The system isinexpensive because it does not replace the user's existing earbudheadsets, but works with them and stabilizes/supports them. In theexample embodiment, the ball and socket make the system extremelycomfortable and the ear frames ensure that the speakers do not fall outof the user's ear.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an earbud stabilization system 10 andearbud speaker 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.The earbud system 10 include a ear frame 14 and a clip 16 that attachedto the earbud headphone speaker 15. The earbud speaker 15 has housing 16that includes a stem 18 that connects to an electrical cord 20 andspeaker portion 22.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an ear frame 14 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. The ear frame 14 may be “C” shaped or maybe described as a spiral shape extending slightly beyond 360 degrees.The ear frame 14 has a first end 24 and a second end 26. The first end24 has an opening (aperture) 27. The ear frame is made of a softplastic/rubber in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a clip 16 in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention. The clip 16 has a pin 28 extending from a convex side 30of the clip 16. The pin 28 has a head in shape of a ball 32 at the endof a stem 34.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the clip 16 in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. This figure shows the concave side 36 of the clip. Thefirst end 38 of the clip 16 connects (mates) with a stem 18 of theearbud speaker housing. The second end 40 connects (mates) with aspeaker portion 22 of the earbud speaker housing.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the earbud stabilization system 10in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This cross sectionalview shows how the clip 16 connects to the ear frame 14. The pin 28 ispushed through the opening 27 of the ear frame 14. The opening 27 has afirst side 42, which is a flat circular opening—see FIG. 2. The otherside 44 of the opening 27 is in the form of a socket or sphericalconcave surface. The ball 32 of the pin and the socket 44 of the earframe 14 form a ball and socket arrangement that allows the clip 16 torotate freely. In addition, the width of the step 34 of the pin 28 issmaller than the flat circular opening 42. This allows the clip 16 totilt slightly. In one embodiment, the clip may be attached in anothermanner. For instance, it may not be a ball and socket arrangement, itmay be formed as part of the ear frame, or some other well knownattachment system may be used without departing from the invention.

In operation, the user snaps the speakers of their earbud headsetheadphones to the clips of their earbud stabilization system. The earframe is then placed over the user's ear. The system is inexpensivebecause it does not replace the user's existing earbud headset, butworks with them. The ball and socket make the system extremelycomfortable and the ear frames ensure that the earbud headsets do notfall out of the user's ear.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an earbud stabilization system 60 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, aheadband 62 has a pair of ear covers 64. The ear covers 64 have anopening 66 that accepts the pin 28 of the clip 16 shown in FIG. 3. FIG.7 is a perspective view of an earbud stabilization system 60 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. This figure shows theearbud speaker 12 attached to the clip 16, which is attached to the earcover 64. The embodiment of the earbud stabilization system 60 shown inFIGS. 6 & 7 allows the user to use a headband 62 to hold the earbudspeakers 12 instead of ear frames 14.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.

1. An earbud stabilization system, comprising: an ear frame shaped to goover a user's ear, the ear frame defining an aperture to accept a pin; aclip forming a concave cavity that cooperates with an earbud headphone;and the pin attached to the clip and detachably extending through theaperture in the ear frame.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the earframe having a first end, the first end having an opening comprising aside with the shape of a socket.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein ahead of the pin is in the shape of a ball.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the clip is allowed to rotate in a ball and socket arrangement.5. The system of claim 1, wherein a stem of the pin is smaller than theopening in the ear frame, thereby allowing the clip to tilt.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the clip has a first end that connects with astem of the earbud headphone and a second end that connects with aspeaker portion of the earbud headphone.
 7. An earbud stabilizationsystem, comprising: an ear frame having a spiral shape extendingslightly beyond 360 degrees shaped to go over one's ear; and a cliphaving an attachment point to a first end of the spiral shape, the cliphaving a concave shape that connects to a speaker of an earbudheadphone.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the clip is detachablyconnected to the ear frame.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the earframe has an opening at the first end.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the opening has a first side and a second side, the second sideforming a spherical concave surface.
 11. The system of claim 10, whereinthe first side has a flat circle opening.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein the clip has a pin as an attachment point that connects to theopening.
 13. The system of claim 7, wherein the pin has a head in theshape of a ball.
 14. The system of claim 7, wherein the clip is allowedto rotate in a ball and socket arrangement.
 15. The system of claim 11,wherein a stem of the pin is smaller than the flat circular opening inthe ear frame, thereby allowing the clip to tilt slightly.
 16. An earbudstabilization system, comprising: a headband; a pair of ear coversattached to a pair of ends of the headband, the pair of ear covershaving an opening; a clip having a concave side that connects to anearbud headphone; and a pin attached to the clip and detachablyextending through the opening in the ear covers.
 17. The system of claim16, wherein a head of the pin is in the shape of a ball.
 18. The systemof claim 17, wherein the clip is allowed to rotate in a ball and socketarrangement.